John Barss (14 September 1778 – 12 May 1851) was from a large family in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, the son of Joseph Barss and Elizabeth Crowell. His early training was on his father's ships and he became an expert ship's captain with an intimate knowledge of the trade and the seas from Labrador to the West Indies.Barss's trade involved the usual fare which centered on items such as fish, rum, sugar, lumber, coffee, etc.